How to buy travellers cheques or foreign currency

sisyphus_2

pin wrote:

Have just updated my foreign money list ...

i've noticed little about the Egg Money card anywhere. i'm off to France for a short break, so i've just read my Egg Money card T&C. For cash withdrawals they charge NO INTEREST, as long as the card is in credit. :cool:

So i'll be loading up my card before i go and paying for everything in cash.

pin

sisyphus wrote:

i've noticed little about the Egg Money card anywhere. i'm off to France for a short break, so i've just read my Egg Money card T&C. For cash withdrawals they charge NO INTEREST, as long as the card is in credit. :cool:

So i'll be loading up my card before i go and paying for everything in cash.

Do they charge a cash withdrawal fee?

Also if you are in credit with credit cards (i.e. front loading) you are not normally given s.75 CCA protections if things go wrong.

Edit to add:

I see there is no cash advance charge, that is fair enough.

However on foreign currency they still charge a 2.65% foreign currency conversion fee, and this seems to applay also to cash advances abroad.

pin

Hi, I've updated my list to include information on the Travelex Price Promise:

Hi, Here is my list of top places on how to get money to spend abroad:

1. Nationwide Debit Card for ATM withdrawals from destination country (no foreign loading) / Nationwide Credit Card or the Audi credit card for purchases in destination country (but watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).
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2. SAGA credit card (if you are over 50) for purchases in destination country (no foreign loading for European purchases, 1% for rest of the world, no cash withdrawal interest if balance repaid in full BUT 1.5%/£1.50 cash withdrawal fee).

3. Any other debit card for ATM withdrawals from destination country / any other credit card for purchases in destination country (but for both CHECK T&C's to see exact charges).

4. Thomas Exchange Global ("TEG") in central London - pay and pick up at store.

5. Travelex online (remember Travelex will price match any other exchange service, i.e. the one above) -pay online, pick up at airport.

For price matching: order through Travelex online as you would do normally, then call up TEG (02072401214 or 02078281880) and get a quote re their exchange rate. Email Travelex: [EMAIL="customerservices@travelex.com"]customerservices@travelex.com[/EMAIL] (must be done on the same day) stating the following: your Travelex reference number, your currency quote from TEG (and the fact you got it from TEG) and your address (Travelex will send you a cheque refunding the difference). Also Travelex normally acknowledge receipt of your email. Full terms and conditions of the Travelex Price Promise are on the Travelex website.

6. Marks and Spencer - pay online or pay and pick up instore.

7. Online FX (using this link ensures free deliver) - pay online, delivery to home.

8. Thomson Travel (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider) - pay online, delivery to home.

9. Co-op Travel (they use Currency Express / Exchange and offer free delivery for orders over £300) - pay online, delivery to home.

10. Post Office (while probably not the best rate, there are many of them around, so may be convenient) - pay online, pick up at PO or pay and pick up at PO.

11. Haggle with High Street travel agent (which may ensure better rates than 5 to 9 above) - pay and pick up instore.

With 4 - 11, if you are paying with debit / credit card check your T&C's as many providers charge for the privilege of using money exchange services.

Here are links to ATM locators: VISA and MasterCard

Also please read Martin's article: Spending Overseas and Loading Technicals

Also look at the these forum threads: Travel Money: The List & The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area and How to buy TCs and foreign currency

Hope this all helps!!
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robbies_gal

has anyone used thomas exchange global and do they deliver to your home?

pin

gabbyevs wrote:

has anyone used thomas exchange global and do they deliver to your home?

Lots of people have. I think they deliver at home, but charge.

pin

Further update to list:

1. Nationwide Debit Card for ATM withdrawals from destination country (no foreign loading) / Nationwide Credit Card or the Audi credit card for purchases in destination country (but watch out for Dynamic Currency Conversion) (no foreign loading for purchases, BUT watch charges for cash withdrawals).
[FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=times new roman, new york, times, serif][FONT=arial, helvetica, sans-serif]
2. SAGA credit card (if you are over 50) for purchases in destination country (no foreign loading for European purchases, 1% for rest of the world, no cash withdrawal interest if balance repaid in full BUT 1.5%/£1.50 cash withdrawal fee).

3. Any other debit card for ATM withdrawals from destination country / any other credit card for purchases in destination country (but for both CHECK T&C's to see exact charges).

4. Thomas Exchange Global ("TEG") in central London - pay and pick up at store.

5. Travelex online (remember Travelex will price match any other exchange service, i.e. the one above) -pay online, pick up at airport.

For price matching: order through Travelex online as you would do normally, then call up TEG (02072401214 or 02078281880) and get a quote re their exchange rate. Email Travelex: [EMAIL="customerservices@travelex.com"]customerservices@travelex.com[/EMAIL] (must be done on the same day) stating the following: your Travelex reference number, your currency quote from TEG (and the fact you got it from TEG) and your address (Travelex will send you a cheque refunding the difference). Also Travelex normally acknowledge receipt of your email. Full terms and conditions of the Travelex Price Promise are on the Travelex website.

6. Marks and Spencer - pay online or pay and pick up instore.

7. Online FX (using this link ensures free deliver) - pay online, delivery to home.

8. Thomson Travel (they seem to use Amex as their travel money provider) - pay online, delivery to home.

9. Co-op Travel (they use Currency Express / Exchange and offer free delivery for orders over £300) - pay online, delivery to home.

10. Post Office (while probably not the best rate, there are many of them around, so may be convenient) - pay online, pick up at PO or pay and pick up at PO.

11. Haggle with High Street travel agent (which may ensure better rates than 5 to 9 above) - pay and pick up instore.

With 4 - 11, if you are paying with debit / credit card check your T&C's as many providers charge for the privilege of using money exchange services.

Here are links to ATM locators: VISA and MasterCard

Here are various information links to VISA: Foreign Exhcnage Rate FAQ and Visa Exchange Rates

Also please read Martin's article: Spending Overseas and Loading Technicals

Also look at the these forum threads: Travel Money: The List & The Cheapest Way to Spend Overseas Discussion Area and How to buy TCs and foreign currency

Hope this all helps!!
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nylsor

We were contacted by a local travel agent with whose company we had booked a holiday on the Net and offered 'commission free' sterling travellers cheques. I was very surprised as we have always paid commission on sterling TC. I asked twice if this offer was definitely commission free and was reassured that it was. The cheques had to be ordered and when doing so (in person) I again asked if they were commission free. On collecting my £1000 of cheques I was asked to pay £1044! Needless to say I did not accept them. We no longer buy sterling cheques preferring to use Euro TC in Europe and credit cards in the States. Our hotels in Seville and also in the States refused to cash sterling TC.

poorbabe

I'm off to the family island for the Christmas/New year/Mum's birthday period. In previous years I've taken Sterling and changed it as and when at local banks/building societies, swopped Sterling for JA dollars with Mum (better rate!) and on my last trip took US TC and a little cash and my pre-loaded Egg cc (for emergencies).

This time I'm not sure what to do for the best. I'm going to be there for 3 weeks staying with family most of the time with maybe one or two forays at a hotel or BB.

Any suggestions? My head hurts!

carisso

Please could someone tell me where is the button to start a new thread? Can't find it anywhere.

EagerLearner

I have an Egg Money card.

If I preload it, will I pay any withdrawal fees at ATM's in Thailand?

Thanks